Iceland
Two
whitefish are
known only from Lake Thingvallavatn: Salvelinus thingvallensis
(Naturhistorhiska
riksmuseet) and Salvelinus
murta (flickr).
One marine species, a viviparous brotula Bythites islandicus
(eol)
is known only from a single locality off southeast Iceland.
An amphipod crustacean Crymostygius
thingvallensis (ScienceDaily)
is the sole member of an endemic family, the Crymostygidae. Other
endemic invertebrates include the root-maggot flies Pegomyia ruficauda (eol) and Hydrophoria
aliena (eol), a
leaf-miner fly Phytoliriomyza
islandica (IngentaConnect),
the parasitic wasps Alloxysta
islandica (Fauna
Europaea) and Meloboris islandica (Fauna
Europaea), a scale insect Trionymus incertus (ScaleNet), a marine worm Lumbricillus macrothecatus
(Wiley
InterScience), and an amphipod
crustacean Crangonyx
islandicus (Zootaxa
pdf file).
An eyebright Euphrasia
calida (ACEC
Viera y Clavijo) and a grass Elymus alopex (SLU)
are
the only endemic vascular plants other than hawkweed microspecies.
Among the hawkweeds sometimes recognized as a distinct
species is Hieracium
(or
Pilosella) islandicum (Flora of
Iceland).
Iceland's most distinctive living organism is a microbe Nanoarchaeum equitans
(Wikipedia)
collected from a hydrothermal vent that may represent a distinct
phylum. Endemic bacteria living in hot springs in
temperatures up
to 97° C include Methanothermus
sociabilis (LPSN)
and Sulfophobococcus
zilligii (CAT.INIST).
Iceland comprises the Iceland Boreal Birch Forests and Alpine Tundra
ecosystem (EoE).